Player Profile

PRO: Raw potential, size and athletic ability have enabled Collins to make the transition from collegiate defensive tackle to a promising young offensive lineman in the NFL. Signed as a rookie free agent defensive tackle from Northwestern in 2001, Collins worked on both sides of the line as a rookie before concentrating mostly on offensive tackle toward the end of his first professional season. He spent the spring of 2002 in a learning capacity as an offensive tackle with the Frankfurt Galaxy in NFL Europe, where he helped lead the way for 1,433 rushing yards - the second best total in NFLE. Injuries and uncertainty on the Dallas line in 2002 forced Collins into extensive action at right tackle where he showed continued improvement and flashes of promise.

2002: After being inactive for the season opener at Houston (9/8), Collins earned his first NFL regular season game action on the field goal unit against Tennessee (9/15). In the loss at Philadelphia (9/22), starting right guard Kelvin Garmon was injured in the third quarter, prompting starting right tackle Solomon Page to take Garmon's spot. Collins was then inserted at right tackle and received his initial stretch of extended playing time on the offensive line. In the following week's last-minute victory at St. Louis (9/29), Collins moved into the lineup at right tackle for Larry Allen (ankle) mid-way through first quarter. His solid play helped Dallas allow just two sacks in 38 pass plays, while the Cowboys rushed for 122 yards on 27 carries (4.5 avg.). The next week against the N.Y. Giants (10/6), Collins once again took over at right tackle for Allen (ankle) in the first quarter and helped limit DE Michael Strahan to four tackles and no sacks for the day. He made his first NFL start against Carolina (10/13) when he replaced Allen (moved to left guard) at right tackle and helped Dallas gain 311 total yards in a 14-13 victory. Collins earned his second career start at Arizona (10/20) with Allen inactive (ankle), and he helped Dallas rush for 148 yards and a 4.1 yards-per-carry average. The line allowed just two sacks on the day despite two changes at the left guard position because of injuries. Collins earned a spot in history against Seattle (10/27) as Emmitt Smith earned his first 100-yard rushing game of the year and passed Walter Payton as the NFL's all-time leading rusher with Collins at right tackle. Collins, however, suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee on the final extra point of the game and did not return. The injury forced him to miss the next six games. In the loss to Philadelphia (12/21), Collins returned to action after taking over at right tackle for Page, who sprained a knee on the game's second drive. Collins went the distance at right tackle the following week in the season ending loss at Washington (12/29) in place of Page.

2001: Collins was inactive for all 16 games in his first year with the Cowboys. He was one of only four rookie free agents to make the roster out of training camp. After working at nose tackle with the third unit during preseason and recording three tackles, Collins moved to offensive tackle the first week of the regular season. After working on both sides of the ball during the first half of the season, Collins concentrated on offense during the second half of the year.

COLLEGE: During his senior campaign at Northwestern, Collins started at defensive tackle and led all linemen with 49 tackles, a career-high 11 tackles for losses and three sacks. As a junior, Collins finished the year with 38 tackles and led the defensive line with four sacks. Playing in all 12 games and starting five as a sophomore, Collins recorded 36 tackles, three for a loss and one sack. Collins saw action in eight games as a special teams player as a redshirt freshman.

PERSONAL: Javiar Lawrence Collins was named Blue Chip Illustrated All-America and SuperPrep all-mid-west as he recorded 105 tackles, nine sacks and four forced fumbles as a senior at St. Thomas Academy in St. Paul, Minn., to earn all-state, all-metro and all-conference honors in football and basketball. He earned two letters in football and three in basketball. As a member of the 2001 Rookie Club program which introduces rookie team members to community service in the Dallas area, Collins participated in monthly visits to charitable organizations serving children. Collins has also participated in The Salvation Army Angel Tree program for needy children during the holiday season and the offensive line's ongoing support of The Rise School of Dallas in the club's First Downs for down Syndrome program. Collins graduated from Northwestern with a degree in communications.